Gerhardt R. “Gary” Griess, 83, died Aug. 17, 2026. He was born April 28, 1943, in Hastings and graduated from Hastings High School in 1961.

Gary earned a BA from Hastings College and a BA from USF in 1976. He later earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of South Florida in 1980. Gary served four years in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of Captain. He graduated from Officer Candidate School and served in the Signal Corps. He worked in the safety and health field for most of his career. Among his notable positions, he served as an Area Director for DOL-OSHA, Director of Safety and Mission Assurance at Kennedy Space Center, and as Director of Environmental, Safety, Health, and Quality at the Nevada National Security Site.

Gary was actively involved in ASSE, AIHA, MBTI, and other professional associations. He also served as an elder and Stephen Minister at GPC in Gaithersburg, MD. In recent years, he pursued his interest in writing mysteries. He published two books and was working on a series of mysteries at the time of his death.

Gary was preceded in death by his father, Reinhold Griess; and his mother, Luella Griess.

He is survived by his wife, Angela Griess; children, Cecilia Griess (Jason), Charles Griess (Julie), and Ashley Vest (Mark); stepchildren, Audrey Shores (Jhones) and Jennifer Ashley; 12 grandchildren; and sister, Leona Bangert (Les).

Interment service with honors will be at Sarasota National Cemetery on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 10:30 a.m.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26 at The Firehouse Cultural Center, 101 1st Ave. NE, Ruskin, FL from 2 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.